Decades of Scorn for 'Trophy' Wives

Times are tough for the "trophy wife." As a label for a spouse treated as a status symbol, typically by an older, richer man, the term has gotten a lot of flak lately.

Last week, ABC announced that it was canceling the critically acclaimed comedy "Trophy Wife" after just one season. Many pointed to the show's title as a reason for its low ratings: It was intended to be a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the "trophy wife" stereotype, but the irony was lost on many viewers. "The American...